Chapter 197

Zhong Li: "....."

【West Wind Knights Headquarters.】

【After Eula and Jean brought Su Bai to Fargal's office.】

【Fargal feigned surprise and asked: "Did you catch that mutated Chuchu?"】

【"Why did you bring back a boy?"】

【"Is he a Liyue person you rescued?"】

【Jean: "....."】

【Eula: "....."】

【Fargal: "....."】

【The air fell silent instantly.】

【After a long pause, Fargal laughed heartily: "No wonder it's you, Jean and Eula."】

【"You actually brought back the ones who stole the supplies."】

【"You've worked hard—I'll interrogate this fellow myself."】

【Jean: "....."】

【Eula: "Cough cough, Grand Commander, could you be a bit more honest?"】

【"Alright, I need to speak with Su Bai Laurent."】

【Jean and Eula exchanged a glance, naturally understanding the reason.】

【Without saying much, both turned to look at Su Bai.】

【"I'll wait outside. When you're done, I'll show you around Mondstadt."】

【"Of course, if you dare follow me."】

【Eula waved her hand and left with a flourish.】

【Jean wanted to say something, but held back, merely bowing slightly to Su Bai before stepping out.】

【"Alright, now it's just the two of us. What do you want with me?"】

【Su Bai faced Fargal without any restraint.】

【They were old acquaintances; among men, no matter the age gap, there was nothing a few drinks couldn't fix.】

【Drink more, and the bond grows closer.】

【"I remember your old dream was to become a knight, wasn't it?"】

【"To reclaim your life in Mondstadt."】

【Fargal shed his usual laziness, his expression unusually serious.】

【He knew that if Su Bai truly wished to leave Mondstadt, he could have returned to Liyue long ago under his Liyue identity.】

【Fargal deeply admired Su Bai for this.】

【Where you lost something, there you reclaim it.】

【590 is a real man.】

【"And I think you know a bit about Eula's situation."】

【"Now, what do you think?"】

【Facing Fargal's question.】

【Su Bai fell into confusion.】

【Once, he had fully believed Eula's words; now, seeing her situation, he didn't know how to act to change Mondstadt's prejudice against the Laurents.】

【At least, to alter the image of him and Eula in the hearts of Mondstadt's people.】

【"I don't know. Honestly, I'm lost."】

【"Eula once believed that if she became a knight, she could change how the people of Mondstadt saw her."】

【"But now, she's captain of a knight squad, has given so much to Mondstadt—and still, nothing has changed."】

【A boy's confusion?】

【Fargal nodded.】

【Su Bai remained as straightforward as ever.】

【Fargal poured Su Bai a cup of wine and handed it to him.】

【"I have my own big problems."】

【"It's been a thousand years since Lady Winona founded the West Wind Knights."】

【"Comfortable living always changes people's hearts."】

【"Even within the Knights, many who claim to uphold knightly honor have done things that violate the knightly spirit."】

Ilok?

Fargal's final words immediately brought that name to the West Wind Knights' minds.

The former knight inspector who stole credit and drove Diluc to leave the Knights in rage.

Of course, everyone knew Ilok was merely a representative of the West Wind Knights' vast organization.

People like him were not rare within the Knights.

【"I've observed you for many years."】

【"No matter what happens, your innermost core remains unshakable."】

【Fargal clinked his cup against Su Bai's.】

【"Let's make a deal, Su Bai..."】

【"A deal?" Su Bai grew even more confused upon hearing this.】

Falgar laughed: "I will push through opposition to establish another independent knightly regiment."

"You will serve as its commander, but the knights I can provide you must be selected solely from Mondstadt's Underclass."

"And the missions you must complete may be heavier than those of any other knight squad."

Su Bai frowned.

Falgar continued: "I will take full responsibility for publicizing all your mission achievements."

"My goal is simple: I want to use your hand to thoroughly restructure the spiritual demeanor of the Windblume Knights."

"After all, if your independent knightly regiment outshines the Windblume Knights, I'll have a perfect excuse to crack down on those lazy, spiritless fools."

"What you gain is honor—but I cannot guarantee that even this will earn you and Eula the understanding of Mondstadt's people."

"Still, I believe this is an opportunity for you."

With that, he fell silent.

Falgar sighed deeply: "Ah, sometimes, too much spiritual freedom isn't a good thing."

Chapter 113: Furina's Doubt—A Free City, Can Love Not Be Free?

This, then, was the true reason Su Bai Laurens became commander.

He was tasked with leading Mondstadt's Underclass citizens to reestablish an independent knightly regiment to carry out various missions.

To serve as a banner and standard against the Windblume Knights.

To strengthen the knightly spirit of the Windblume Knights.

The outcome surprised the Teyvat audience.

Moreover, they believed Falgar, Grand Master of the Windblume Knights, had gone too far.

It reeked of manipulation.

If viewed at a higher level, it escalated into internal conflict within the Windblume Knights.

Nahida: "Did Mondstadt's Grand Master use Su Bai as a pawn?"

Falgar: "Wait, Little Sage of Sumeru, your words are ambiguous. What I have with Su Bai Laurens is a transaction."

Diluc: "He wants to fuse Su Bai's Laurens family background with his identity as a member of Mondstadt's Underclass to form the regiment."

Kaeya: "Such a stark class divide will indeed shock certain members of the Windblume Knights. If Su Bai's independent regiment outperforms them in glory and battle achievements, some will shatter."

Lisa: "No comparison, no hurt. That group surely doesn't want to fall behind the Laurens."

Tevrat: "This is a fine way to strike the Windblume Knights. If they can't even match the Laurens, what right do they have to call themselves knights? Go home and farm."

Venti: "....."

Alhaitham: "What Su Bai Laurens gains is glory and battle achievements; whether he can change his standing in the hearts of Mondstadt's people depends entirely on their inner thoughts."

Alice: "So, Falgar, I asked you to look after my apprentice—and you dumped the dirtiest, most grueling work on him?"